Mahli Beardman’s summer only getting better after being selected for a series of World Cup lead-in matches

Mahli Beardman’s outstanding summer is only getting better. The Dunsborough-born cricketer started in the Big Bash League qualifier guiding the scorchers to a record ninth final, just days after being selected in Australia’s T20 squad for a series of World Cup lead-in matches against Pakistan. Beardman’s 3-20 off three overs proved to the country the 20-year-old young quick is ready to take the next step, adding to his stunning season so far, with 14 wickets and eight in his past three games. The crucial wicket of Steve Smith was always going to be a key for the Scorchers in Tuesdays BBL Qualifier against the Sydney Sixers, even more critical after only managing 9/147 in their 20 overs. Handed the ball in the fourth over by skipper Ashton Turner, Beardman needed to get his side off to a hot start, especially after Smith and Josh Phillipe got out of the gates quickly, the Sixers 1-21 after three overs. Beardman’s greatest test of his career to date would prove to be the battle with one of the world’s greatest batsmen, and the Sixers last hope, Smith, who he almost removed in the sixth over, but Turner couldn’t quite jump high enough after Smith skewed one over mid-off. The Sixers were 5-66 after 10 overs, needing 82 runs from 60 balls, with Beardman coming on to bowl his third over. With his captain at the top of his mark waiting to bowl to Smith, Turner said they should try a bouncer aiming over fourth or fifth stump, get it a little bit wider because they knew he would try to get inside it to take it on over fine leg. Proving the genius tactic, Beardman bowled the 139kmh bouncer, just as Turner envisioned. Smith was hurried trying to hook over fine leg, but he miscued as it flew close to the rope but not over it, with David Payne taking the catch a metre inside the boundary. The crowd, and Beardman, go berserk. “[Biggest moment of my career], no doubt. It was the [Under-19] World Cup previously but that tops it easily,” Beardman said. “It was quite hard taking the emotion away from bowling to someone I’ve idolised in Steve Smith, it was a little bit of a pinch me moment, but I wanted to take all the emotion away from it and focus on bowling a decent ball.” It was an almighty collapse for the Sixers, who were 3-63 and lost 7 wickets for 36 runs to be bowled out for 99. The Sixers will play the Hurricanes on Friday, with the winner then going on to play the Scorchers in the decider on Sunday at Optus Stadium.